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Sherwood focused on Villa job

Reports of new buyers from the United States have emerged with Villa owner Randy Lerner having put the Midlands club on the market nearly a year ago.

The club have not commented on claims about a sale, and Sherwood insists he has heard nothing about buyers and will ignore any speculation over his job.

Sherwood, whose side are just three points above the Premier League relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s trip to Manchester United, said: “There’s a buyer out there for Manchester United, it’s going to have to be a rich one.

“Every club is for sale but I haven’t heard anything, no.

“It’s not a concern, I just have to do my job. My job is to prepare the team and keep them in the league this year.

“It was obviously going to be a difficult task. Nobody said it was going to be easy.

“There will be lots of ups and downs along the way but I’m confident we can do it.”

No regrets

And the former Spurs boss insists he has no regrets about taking the job in February.

He added: “It’s a great club, I feel very pleased to have got the opportunity to manage this great club.

“It is a dream job for me if we stay in the league, it gives me a pre-season to build my own squad.

“I couldn’t have hand-picked a better job, but we need to get over the line.”

Captain Ron Vlaar could return at Old Trafford after a calf problem, while Jores Okore is expected to be fit following a knee injury.

Vlaar, 30, is out of contract in the summer and Sherwood wants him to rediscover his spark and focus on keeping Villa in the Premier League.

Sherwood said: “We all know what he has done over the years but when people are putting their hands in their pockets to fork out money, they want to know they are getting value.

“He was right up there with the best at the World Cup but people have short memories.

“You are always looking at what people are doing now rather than a few months ago. He will have far more options open to him if he is in the shop window that’s for sure.

“He realises he needs to be playing. I haven’t even bothered speaking to him. There’s time for that when we are safe.

“He is just concentrating on getting fit to play. Without getting on the pitch, he’s not going to be an attractive proposition to anybody.”